Walgreens

I transferred my prescriptions and I frequent the Walgreens on Brandon street in Anchorage Ak because it is near me over a year ago.

I get the same prescriptions there each month. I am at my wits end with the excuses for not having my medication (Belbuca) refilled each month.

The team there in general show absolutely no concern when they are unable to help. I am instructed to call in advance to insure the meds are available and ordered. I do this every month. 1week in advance, again at 4 days, again at 2 days, and even the day prior to the med date to be refilled. I am told each time that it has been ordered, it’s in the que to be released on a specific day, and yes it will be ready.

I go to pick my meds up on the day I am told it will be available only to be told it is either on back order, or there’s none in warehouse, or it did not come in with current order or it hasn’t even been ordered yet and I’ll need to wait 4 to 5 days and call back. Each time I call I am placed on hold no less than 45 min to an hour only be told to call back later, it’s not ready or worse yet disconnected all together because it’s the lunch hour even though I’ve been on hold for up to an hour prior to the lunch break.

If I’m fortunate I may get a partial fill to hold me until order is in, however this time around I was given 1 days worth and told it will be another 4 days before order is available. I was told if I need it earlier I could go to a Walgreens over 30 miles away because they have it in stock there.

I called that particular Walgreens (Eagle River, Alaska) only be told they have it but because I accepted the ONE day partial refill they cannot fill unless my provider calls in, by now it’s a Saturday so this cannot be accomplished.

I would like to note the customer service and pharmacist at the EagleRiver location were kind, caring, apologetic and seemed genuinely concerned with my dilemma however there hands were tied so to speak, which I understood the reasons. What I don’t understand is why I wasn’t informed I should not have accepted a one day partial fill if it would prohibit me from going to another pharmacy that had it available to completely fill..

The staff at the Brendon location are under qualified or under trained in customer care in general. Their uncaring attitude is highly offensive. I have asked repeatedly to ask to a manager that tells me to just call in my meds in advance to avoid the issues I’m having. I explain that I do this EVERY month. I am told there is nothing else they can do to alleviate the issue.

I realize there’s a nation wide shortage of qualified pharmacy team members, and certain medications may be in shortage due to Covid and other causes.

This is why I do my best to be patient. However over a year of same type of problems and excuses is highly questionable when other pharmacies I’ve contacted don’t seem to have same problem on a consistent basis. If this pharmacy is having problems with supply and demand they can at least make up for it in common decency and some type of human compassion when dealing with individuals with chronic conditions that rely on medication to provide a measure of relief and quality of life.

Im a 60 yr old woman with a chronic back condition, fiber myalgia, and arthritis who has to work. So this medication provides a measure of relief that allows me to function daily with out being in critical pain. So to be told I will have to wait up to 5 days for it to be refilled when I have followed all instructions to insure it’s availability on the day I have no medication left is fairly devastating.

It’s for this reason that I will discontinue doing business with Walgreens. I know that’s not going to put a dent in anyones pocket but I am certain this is not the only complaint you have or will receive about this location.

When a person has to possibly drive 30 miles to a Walgreens that treats customers with respect and care when there’s one less than 2 miles from their home, that’s a sad situation. That’s not a Walgreen issue that’s an individual location and staff situation that can and should be rectified.

Out of the at least 10 employees I’ve encountered at this Walgreens location in past year only 2 have shown empathy and put effort forth to give a reasonable explanation or to solve the problem I deal with every single month.

I know this will all no doubt fall on deaf ears and needless to say I will be changing pharmacies in near future but if by chance it does come to the attention of whoever handles these complaints I sincerely hope something can be done about this particular Walgreens location.

Thank you,

Sincerely,

Terry McDaniel Lane

[protected]@icloud.com